The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-24
WOMEN IN HYDE pARH.
How Some of tho Cutcasts OF London
Spend Their Lives.
f7rom ne ran MaH gazette.

During the summer months it was we'll
known to the authorities that a number of
young women night after night slept on the
grass beneath the trees in Hyde Park. They
were principally young women, varying in
age from is to 80. Some remained during
the greater part of the day in the park
Others departed early, as if on business
bent. No one inquired what that business
was. and they were allowed to depart without
interruption On wet, comfortless nights the
attention of the police has been called to
these poor outcasts, but to all the latterNs
recommendations or perSuasons Of going to
a workhouse or casual ward they turned a
deaf ear, expressing their determination to
remain in the park and be independent
AS the law was not broken in any way, and
there was no public obstruction, the police
authorities believed themselves to be power
less, and the young women were allowed to
take their nights rest in secluded parts of
Hyde Park.
AS winter advanced, however, the num-
Der of these young women decreased but at
the present time there are many girls who
have no homes, no money and no friends,
and through the cold days and piteous
nights take their only rest under the wide
canopy Of heaven. A fortnight ago,
though the thermometer did not register n
very low degree of heat in the atmos-
phere, the northerly winds were pierre
ingly cold, and on the damp green sward
of the park, in the most sheltered posi-
ton they could find, were several young
women seeking rest. The first we saw was
a young girl, apparently strong and
healthy. She appeared rather annoyed by
the intrusion, but, in answer to inquiries,
said she had no home, no money, and was
half starved. "Why not go to the work
house," "No, never" she replied; and, in
answer to other questions, said she had been
in good service, had dlsgraced herself, and
could not get q character to enable her to
take another place. Her mother had mar
ried a second husband, they were poor, and
could not give her shelter, She hoped to
get honest work, she did not know how
soon. The next two were sitting together,
one mending her boots, the other patching
some wearing apparel. They were clean,
tidy-loolling women; both had been
in good situations as domestic SER
wants, and both had been abandoned
by soldiers. The one young woman was
only IS, the other "a. Their friends lived
at distance, but they would never allow
their parents to know the degraded position
into which they had fallen. The elder one
had hopes of being taken at a ''home' - if
not they would have to take her to a hos
pital she said She had been sixteen nights
on the grass, had caught a severe cold and
felt rheumatism flying about her, but the
hacking cough she had would seem to indi-
cate a complaint more dangerous than
rheumatism We visited the Hyde Park
police station. The inspector on duty made
his appearance. He was very communi-
catiye and polite, and even sympathized
with the sufferings of these women.
But" he said, ''what are we to
do? The very three you have Just seen
have been offered over and over again
tickets for the workhouse; have reasoned
with them myself half a dozen times dur
ing the sixteen days they have been here.
The truth is, they prefer this life to having
any restraint put upon them. The fact is,
innocent as they appear they leave here
when darkness sets in, and visit all the low
public houses, and return to the park in the
morning. Compel them to seek a decent
shelter you say. You must remember this
is free country, and people stick up for
what they call their rights, and if | were to
turn them out of this park without their
doing anything contrary to law | should
get severe reprimand. So what are you
to dos We cannot help them who will not
help themselves
We next went to another portion of the
park, where, under a clump of trees and try
ing, as it were, to hide themselves from
human eyes, we saw two young women who
had made bed of fallen leaves, which were
plentiful around that spot and had put their
heads under the shawls which they had
placed over them in order to keep in the
warmth A lady was with us then and she
reused the poor girls, whos were only
II and 10 years Of age. They told her they
were orphans, and had maintained them
selves at machine work for twelve months,
but first one was thrown out of employ
ment and then the other. They lived upon
the clothes they pledged for time, and
then they were driven from their lodgings
because they could not pay the rent. They
had~only been in the park two nights, and
hoped to get some work in the morning, and
then they would be all right. They had two
pence to get bread in the morning, and they
wanted nothing else. Their story appeared
so truthful that our lady friend compassion
ated them and asked the girls to accompany
her, and she would find them lodging for
the night, to save them from catching cold,
and promised to look after them in the
morning. This they gladly accepted. They
obtained work, and few days ago, looking
well and happy, called on the lady to thank
her for kindnesses received.
Twilight had come on and night was APP
preaching, and without our lady friend we
could proceed no further; but we were told
9Ume curious stories concerning some of the
young women who take shelter in the park,
many of which were not very creditable to
Cllo luulNiNudIS, OuOu5u piOillSdCy was nOb
even limited at A clever expedient was
resorted to by two girls during inclement
weather. They carried some park chairs to
a large hollow tree, and, placing the chairs
and themselves within it, and covering the
opening with their old shawls, they made
themselves comfortable for the night. In
this way they passed several nights until
one morning the policemanS attention was
drawn to the spot, and they were forbidden
TO resort to the same stratagem in the
future.
Our visit to Hyde Park was in the third
week of October. Since that period the
northerly winds, the heavy rains and the
occasional frosts have made their marks
upon the poor outcasts. Two have gone to
hospitals, one died, several have departed no
one knows whittier. Six poor creatures have,
however, taken UP their positions in the park
during the night throughout this inclement
weather. They may or may not be deserv
ing characters but they are committing
slow suicide by sleeping on the damp grass,
even though their bodies are sheltered from
the rain by improvised tents covered with
shawls, which are worn the next day.
The police authorities deem it unwise for
any person to aid or assist these homeless
women, as it would only increase the num-
Der of Migrants who frequent the parks;
but as the Chief Commissioner of Police, in
order to put down vagrancy, is taking steps
under the vagrant act to arrest all rogues
and vagabonds throughout the metropolis
who are found wandering or sleeping in the